The Church at the Farmer's Market

On Thursday afternoons throughout the growing season you can find the church at the local Farmer's Market. Many of us garden, and farm, and orchard. Some of us take our wares to market, and some of us stop by to visit awhile with our friends from the church, and pick up some of their produce right out of the garden, or a loaf of their artisan bread fresh from the oven--and, let's be honest, a pie or some cinnamon rolls from the Mennonites, too.

For many of the church people you find displaying their wares at the Farmer's Market, growing and making their products is an exercise in simple living, an act of service, and a celebration of God's Creation. Theirs is a ministry of God's goodness and shalom.

Ton Rietveld, who with his wife Leaha Passaro, and daughters Tallulah and Athena,

operate Leaping Sheep Farms, where they grow all kinds of organic produce,

plus sheep, goats, rabbits, and ducks--

and I probably left something out.

Many interns work at Leaping Sheep Farms through each season,

and some, like Scott and Nick, stay on.

The Farmer's Market is also a celebration of our community, and the ways we cooperate and reach out to each other. You can be sure that much of the season's produce, from those persons pictured here, and from many others in the church, is given to people at church, or to friends and neighbors, or is left in bins and bags at the local Food Bank.

Wayne Verbeck, of Emert's Garden. Wayne is currently president of the Farmer's Market Association.

And Emert Verbeck himself, probably the man who has been growing produce longer

than anyone else here, and known over all those years for the quality of his merchandise

and of his honesty and integrity.

Melanie Thornton, artisan bread maker, her husband Rob Thompson,

and customer and friend Christine Olson.

Melanie provides the loaves that Ellisforde gives to its visitors,

and that have been used in communion services and Love Feasts. 

You can find many wonderful things at a farmer's market, and at this one you can find brothers and sisters in Christ serving others and celebrating the gracious bounty of the Creator.